Wichita eagle., 1887-07-19
THE LONE FISHERMAN.
Origin of q Noted Stage Characteristic
NOR in Pantomime.

| NOR IN H3ntOm1me.
It IS not generally known that Mr..
Maffit created the part Of the Lone Fisher
man in ''Evangeline." The character is
so unique that In many places the play is
remembered by this part alone. The
Fisherman is on in every scene, but does
not speak word, and his only connection
with the play is to burn the will in the
last act. AIr. Maffit said:
| 'The history of the part is this: When
Mr.. Rice was boy in New England he
saw panorama. Sitting on the stage. at
one side of the picture, was an old man
who had no business there and no con-
nection with the show. He was absorbed
in the picture, and as it was unroued his
face expressed a great variety of emotions
of pleasure, disapproval, surprise, etc.
Sometimes he would laugh quietly. The
audience quit watching the picture
and watched the old man, who
made an immense hit. Rice ALWAYS
remembered him. When ''Evange-
line" was contemplated Rice came to me
and asked me if 1 wouldn't do a nom
speaking part in it. The matter rested
there for some time. "Evangeline'' was
produced in New York in 1874, at Niblo's
Garden. Billy Crane, who had been the
buffo in an opera company, was the LIE
Blanc and Ed. Tar, then, as now, was the
King. Louis Mestayer was Catherine,
Fortesque's part, and Laura joyce now
Mrs. Digby Bell, was Evangeine A fish
erman went ON in each act, but all he did
was to fish. He had no other business,
and at the close of the play he spoke a line
and burned the will. In 1875 the play
was brought to Boston, where my part
ner, Bartholomew, now with the Kiralfys,
and 1 were playing. Rice came to me and
reminded me OF the part he had asked me
to play, but said there was no part there
unless made it, which he left it to me to
do. l went to the rehearsals and con-
cludeG to undertake the character l
made it up as you now see it, and intro
duced some of the business. 1t came
gradually, though, and largely by acct
dent. At first did not dance. Then it
occurred to me to fill in blank with one.
The Lone Fisherman's dance is now fam
GUS.
zone night l took fan out with me
for my own personal comfort and sat fan
ming myself upon the rocks. The fan
made a hit and l always carried it after
ward. An old umbrella was lying in the
property IOoill OUt uliu tOOh tlldl
on. 1t added to the effect. was whit
Ting piece of wood with a jackknife
and thought it would look natural to
white it on the stage, as L had nothing
else to do. Then l bethought me of MAX
ing boat / made it, and my business
with it was to admire it. That made
people laugh. concluded to go further
and work the boat off the stage. That
always makes 'em laugh. OF course the
boat is pulled off by cord, but seem TO
fan it off, and my astonishment at seeirig
it move is what creates the fun. The
business with the rat is revival of I'm
old pantomime trick; but the three card
monte business is another accident. do
several tricks with cards, and one night
last winter l was showing them to the
stage carpenters. When got on the stage
1 concluded would try the tricks there.
threw the cards and 1 saw that the audi
ence became interested; SO l just made it
a part of the regular performance, and
now always pretend to be throwing the
cards for some guys money. Sometimes
bets are made among men in the front
rows that they can call my card, but l
always fool them. "-Courier Journal.